In The Things They Carried, Elroy Berdhal is the elderly proprietor of a lodge on the US border with Canada. The two met when Tim O’Brien stayed there after he was drafted and contemplated moving to Canada. Without discussing the situation, Elroy helped him reach his decision to not move.

In "The Things They Carried," Tim O'Brien describes the tangible items carried by soldiers in Vietnam, including water, food, clothing, weapons, ammunition, and the ubiquitous dust of Vietnam itself. However, O'Brien, as a character, does not appear in this specific story, and therefore, no items are directly attributed to him. The narrative focuses on the collective experience of soldiers, blending tangible items with the emotional burdens they carry.

In the eponymous story "The Things They Carried," Martha is a girl in New Jersey who plays volleyball, goes to college, reads Virginia Woolf, and writes Lt. Jimmy Cross letters. Cross wonders if she is still a virgin. In this way, Cross seems like some Knight on a crusade, and he expects his maiden to wait faithfully back at the castle. It's an unrealistic fantasy, but Martha gives Cross hope. Even though she doesn't love him and he only loves the idea of her, she serves as a willing audience, like the reader, who waits in judgment back home to decide if these men are worthy. Lt.

The protagonist, Jimmy Cross, is a static character. He starts out as a romantic soldier and ends up as a jaded soldier who no longer cares about Martha or anything else but the war. Mitchell Sanders is an example of dynamic character. He has no change in his attitude during the story.

Ted Lavender's name symbolizes caution, devotion, tranquility, and irony in the context of war. In the Victorian language of flowers, lavender signifies caution and devotion, reflecting the cautionary tale of his death for Jimmy Cross and the platoon. The irony lies in Lavender's use of tranquilizers to cope with war, juxtaposed against the plant's association with peace and calmness, highlighting his sensitive and delicate nature in a harsh environment.

The main character, Tim O'Brien, is empathetic and observant, initially joining the army out of fear of cowardice. Over time, he evolves by harnessing these traits to become a stronger writer, reflecting on his experiences in Vietnam. Writing serves as a therapeutic outlet for him, diminishing his weaknesses and allowing him to honor his fellow soldiers. Through his narrative, he gains courage and finds a way to reconcile with his past.

Tim O'Brien went to war because he received his draft papers for Vietnam and was too afraid of being called a coward to evade the draft. Therefore, he says, it was his cowardice that drove him to fight.

Kiowa admires Jimmy Cross for his deep care and responsibility towards his men. After Ted Lavender's death, Cross grieves intensely, blaming himself for being distracted by thoughts of Martha. This emotional response earns Kiowa's respect, as he struggles to feel the same level of grief or anger. Kiowa's admiration stems from his own guilt about not feeling enough for Lavender's death, contrasting sharply with Cross's evident compassion.

Martha symbolizes the distractions and emotional burdens that soldiers carry during war. She represents Lieutenant Jimmy Cross's longing for a normal life and his struggle with guilt and responsibility, highlighting the personal and psychological weight that complements the physical loads the soldiers bear.

Henry Dobbins is characterized as a moral and straightforward soldier in "The Things They Carried." He is depicted as a "Good soldier Jesus," embodying a strong moral code and respect towards Vietnamese people, unlike some of his peers. Despite not being religious, he is drawn to the community aspect of church and uses superstition, like wearing pantyhose for protection. He is often haunted by guilt from the war, reflected in his reactions to others' insensitivity.

The men in The Things They Carried carry themselves with poise and dignity. They occasionally slips, allowing their fear to show, but for the most part, they recover quickly.

Norman Bowker is the character that wears a mask the most. He's a gentle and caring person, but is really hurt from his time at war. Even when home in America, he cannot let go of it.

Kiowa feels a deep sense of shock and sadness about Lavender's death. He is disturbed by how quickly it happened and struggles to process the sudden loss, reflecting on the randomness and brutality of war.

In The Things They Carried, Kiowa has a major impact in that his gruesome death graphically illustrates the futility and savagery of war. In life, he also had a significant impact in that he was able to get his buddies to talk about, and understand, their experiences of war.

The core values that make Tim O'Brien go to war are not those that readers likely expect, such as patriotism. Tim O'Brien goes to war to avoid shame and embarrassment and because he is too afraid to flee his draft summons.

In Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, Lt. Jimmy Cross is portrayed as a young, drafted soldier struggling with the burdens of leadership during the Vietnam War. Initially distracted by his fantasies about Martha, a woman from home, Cross's obsession leads to negligence, contributing to the death of a comrade, Ted Lavender. This tragedy forces Cross to abandon his romantic illusions, becoming a more hardened leader. His transformation highlights the dehumanizing effects of war and the internal conflicts soldiers face.

Jim Cross's name in "The Things They Carried" symbolizes the burdens he carries, both as a leader and personally. The name "Cross" suggests a connection to the Christian symbol of the cross, representing the heavy emotional and moral weight he bears, including his guilt over the death of a fellow soldier.

Women in "The Things They Carried" serve as symbols of hope, distraction, and emotional anchors for the soldiers. They represent the lives the men have left behind and their longing for normalcy. Characters like Martha, Mary Anne, and Henry Dobbins' girlfriend embody these themes, highlighting the emotional burdens carried alongside the physical ones in war.